Audubon County Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Audubon Co., Iowa) 1885-1894, 1887-05-05
Hits the Bear i'm tho Eye.

Owing to the large crop OF mast IN
the western range Of the Sierra Terra
Nate this season silver-tip bears are
very numerous, writes a Carmen, Mex
leo, correspondent OF the New York
Sun. In size they run from 200 to
/ 200 pounds. They are very savage,
and. like their alleged ancestors, the
Grizzly, they are susceptible to insult.
Ii there is anything that annoys
huge silver.tip IL is for n hunter to in
wade his cave and disturb him in his
winter nap. Knowing this it takes a
man ofperyeto climb up the steep sides
t OF rocky canyon, and crawl on hands
and knees into cave known to be
inhabited by his bearship, In these
parts there is just one main who looks
upon such undertakings M u picnic.
This is John l., Bridges, one OF Gen.
Clusters old scouts. lie is a dead
shot, n man without fear and what
some folks call foolhardy. For many
years he was u detective in the Rocky
mountain outfit, and Travelled exten.
sively through the wilderness OF the
west. Recently he has dritted into
Mexico, whero no has been devoting
| his time to hunting
The other day Mr.. Bridges and u
friend we're out camping in the mount
aims. shooting Whitehall deer IN u
growth Of scrub liveoak, Every few
st ps along tn" arroyo there were
signs OF bear and fresh tracks. In the
| clubbing season thsis very dangerous
| place to pass through, the jungle being
| 40 thck. The morning was cool, and II
skim Of thin ice spread over the water
holes. Knowing that tho bears had
probably "holed up" in anticipation
Of the cold snap, Mr.. Bridges went on,
| poking his nose into every cavern In
the volcanic rock sides OF the canyon.
At last no spied what appeared TO be
u iissure way up IN tho steep canyon
side, some 80 ieet above the game.
trail at the DO, tom OF the valley. One
look was sufficient to make him say
TO his companion! "There il n big
bear up in that hole. 90 up and
shoot it,"
Bridges friend took n look ut the
almost perpendicular hillside. Mt he
same time experiencing u sudden in
crease in years and weight.
ITS too steep to climb, isn't itY'
he said.
ooh, no." replied Bridges in u wills.
per; put your rifle on the ledge haul
yourself up, do it again. and you can
crawl on your hands and knees up the
rest Of the way. You will have to step
down into the cave, and after waiting
u while you will see the bears eyes
shine. Then shoot the old son OF u
gun In the eye
But suppose don't hit him in tho
eye" suggested the other.
But you must" said the scout.
"Go on"
IL Is u disagreeable thing for any
one TO weaken Mt any time, but espe,
cially for any one when he Is out hunt
ING with mn Cd hunter OF Bridges re-
nown. But tho hillside now looked
like wall and the cave big enough to
hold n family OF lcphants. So Bridges
partner said; IL don't want him,
Jack; get him yourself"
The old man never said a word, lie
climbed up the steep rocks like %
squirrel and disappeared into the cave.
Several minutes passed; then u faint
crack was heard in the mountain.
Some pale blue smoke drifted out OF
the mouth OF the cave, aud then
Bridges came out and quietly dropped
down the hillside. 1t took three men
to drag the bear out Of the cave, lift
him over the wall rock, and roll him
down to the trail. lie weighed $40
pounds, and was shot in the left eye.
Bridges has not referred to the mat.
ter since.